According to the scientists, the BA.2.86 variant is probably not as lethal as the Delta/Omicron strains.
A variant of the coronavirus BA.2.86, characterized by more than 30 spike-shaped gene mutations, was discovered in the UK. The Guardian reported this in relation to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.
It is noted that for the first time this type of coronavirus was discovered in Israel. The variant was previously registered in Denmark and the USA.
On August 18, the World Health Organization announced that it had begun monitoring the BA.2.86 option. Due to the large number of mutations, it is included in the list of “observed variants”.
Currently, the most common coronavirus variants circulating in the world are XBB.1.16 and EG.5. They are located in 101 and 50 countries, respectively. Both of these options are included by the WHO in the “options of interest” group.
According to François Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London, the BA.2.86 variant is unlikely to be as lethal as the Delta/Omicron strains.
“Even under the worst-case scenario, where BA.2.86 triggers a new large-scale wave of infections, we do not expect to see the same rates of severe illness and mortality that we had earlier in the spread of Alpha, Delta or Omicron variants,” said the scientist.
On May 5, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global emergency. On July 1, the quarantine in Ukraine in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, which lasted 1193 days, ended.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.